A Darling Downs council wants to opt out of the State Government's water fluoridation scheme and instead offer residents fluoride tablets.

Fluoride is already in most south-east Queensland drinking water supplies and is due to be added to Toowoomba's water by the end of the year.

Toowoomba Deputy Mayor Paul Antonio says a report out today shows it will be logistically and financially difficult.

"As far as we're concerned we want to talk to the State Government about this because we believe there's a better way of delivering fluoride to those people who want to use fluoride," he said.

The State Government wants 90 per cent of Queensland's water supplies fluoridated by 2012 to improve dental health.

Councillor Antonio says the council will consider today whether to ask the Government if it can offer a tablet alternative.

"There are obviously a lot of people who don't want it and there are obviously people who do want it and see a benefit in it," he said.

"I think we can deliver it in a different way without forcing people to do things and make it a choice that people have."

Acting Premier Paul Lucas says Toowoomba cannot opt out and the State is meeting the capital costs of adding fluoride.

"Well I don't think that's unreasonable for councils that supply water to meet the relatively modest ongoing costs of fluoridation, they meet the ongoing costs of chlorinating the water and other treating of it as well," he said.

"It's a very modest cost but the State will meet the full cost of installation.

"I'm happy to work with the Toowoomba Council to see if there are any issues they have got."

TOOWOOMBA region ratepayers will shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate 20 water fluoridation plants if council loses its appeal for an exemption.

The State Government's compulsory water fluoridation legislation dictates that fluoride must be flowing through Toowoomba residents' taps by December.

The technical and operational issues specific to the city's complex water supply were discussed at yesterday's council committee meeting.

While the State Government will pay for the estimated $4.6 million capital costs of building the plants, the operational and maintenance costs will be left for ratepayers.

Toowoomba Regional Council's water operations manager Alan Kleinschmidt yesterday told councillors there was a risk that Garden City residents would not even receive the correct dose of fluoride.

“The majority of Toowoomba residents will receive drinking water containing less than the mandated fluoride concentration, due to the blending of Mt Kynoch water and bore water in the distribution and reticulation system,” Mr Kleinschmidt said.

PHARMACY manager Garry Franklin was bemused when he saw deputy mayor Paul Antonio encouraging the use of fluoride tablets this week - considering they are no longer being produced.

The head of the council's water committee had no clue Colgate and Oral B had discontinued their lines when he suggested the product as an alternative to fluoridated water on Monday.

He was only informed on Tuesday that Colgate's chief dental officer had recommended the supply be stopped on December 1 to avoid the risk of children developing dental fluorosis - a condition caused by a fluoride overdose.

The tablets have since been cleared from Toowoomba chemist shelves, according to Mr Franklin and several pharmacists contacted by The Chronicle yesterday. Cr Antonio said a “couple of country pharmacies” had limited supplies.

“I'm sure we could approach a pharmaceutical company who could supply tablets if the demand was there,” Cr Antonio said.

Toowoomba-based Australian Dental Association of Queensland councillor Rob Sivertsen met with Cr Antonio last night to discuss the difficulties of implementing and maintaining the fluoridation plants. Dr Sivertsen said a debate based around tablets was academic.

“They're simply not available,” he said. “I would be disappointed if the council spends time tossing up possibilities before throwing its hands up.”

Mr Franklin, from Scott Street Pharmacy, said fluoride tablets had not been available since before Christmas.

“I would have thought the council would have checked it out before suggesting it as an option,” he said.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas told The Chronicle yesterday said he would speak to the council about its concerns about the cost of maintaining the infrastructure needed to add fluoride to the water.

“I'm not prepared to have a situation where people on the Darling Downs have rotten teeth,” he said.

“The State Government has not received any formal correspondence from the Toowoomba Regional Council regarding its concerns and no other councils have applied for an exemption.”

Dr Sivertsen said children needed to be exposed to massive concentrations of fluoride before it damaged tooth enamel.

About Me

For over 6 years, the 4350water blog has informed readers of plans by the Toowoomba City Council (now Toowoomba Regional Council) and the Qld government to introduce recycled water for drinking in Toowoomba.
It has also looked at the issue from a State and Federal perspective and dealt with related State and Federal political issues.
There continues to be a need for the Toowoomba Regional Council to be completely transparent in its dealings with the ratepayers and residents of Toowoomba.
There also continues to be a need for open debate on the benefits and risks of potable reuse and long-term studies on the effects on humans of drinking recycled water.
Coal seam gas water is emerging as a possible alternate water source for some uses for the region.
The 4350water blog is a collective effort and thanks go to its many contributors.